The University of York is offering a £150 grant to students living off campus to help them cope with the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy costs.
Vice-chancellor of York University, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said that the cost of living is ‘one of the biggest challenges’ facing students as they start or resume their studies this term.
‘We know many are extremely concerned about how they will pay the bills,’ Jeffery said.
To combat this, the university has launched the grant and has also worked with the local council and organisations in the city to help students access further support and casual work opportunities.
Who can apply for the York University grant?
In order to be eligible for the grant, student households must be within the City of York Council boundary, or within a radius of 40 miles of the University, and 60 miles for part-time students.
Households must also be all-student, and exempt from Council Tax. Utility bills must also not be included in the rent.
Professor Jeffery said: ‘Whilst many of our students are accommodated on campus, the Household Energy Grant is aimed at supporting those students who live off campus and who face considerable financial pressure as energy bills rise.’
University working with city council and local organisations
The household grants, which will support 2,200 students, are part of a £6 million support package from the university. Other measures that the university has be putting in place include bursaries for those who need help with paying rent, emergency loans, free laptop hire, free period products on campus, subsidised food and food vouchers, and a Student Support Fund.
The university and the Students’ Union are working with organisations across the city to ‘broker casual employment opportunities for students’ as well as with the City Council to ‘maximise student access to any support that is available to them via government measures.’
In addition to all this, the Students’ Union has created a fund worth £20,000. The fund, called ‘Access Opportunities,’ aims to support students who are struggling to pay for extracurricular activities.